Paul Walker Tragically Died 3 Years Ago: Here's Why He Still Lives On In Our Hearts

Do you still remember those sparkly blue eyes? That sandy blonde hair? On this day in 2013, the world was shocked to discover that it had lost a talented and respected actor and, more importantly, a human being. Paul Walker tragically passed away in a car accident. To this day, people are still grieving and paying tributes in remembrance of him.

I'll never forget the moment I found out. I'd just woken up and hadn't been on any social media or even turned on the TV. I made my way downstairs to the kitchen and my dad said to me, "Have you heard who died from the Fast and Furious films?" as he knew I was a huge fan. Before I had time to say Paul Walker's name my dad had revealed the news — and my heart sank. This was the first celebrity death that I had felt personally. I was a huge fan of the film franchise and of #PaulWalker. I've seen all of his films, so as a fan it hit me hard. I remember spending the day watching video tributes. Even now, three years later, it still upsets me that he's gone. It still doesn't seem real. I'll watch a film and forget he's no longer here.

This is one of the ways Paul Walker lives on in memory. I'm just one of his millions of fans, and his performances and personality have touched us all — most famously, of course, with his #FastandFurious character, Brian O'Conner.

Paul's Final Gift To Fans: 'Furious 7'

When the Furious 7 film came out, I was first to see it at the cinema. I couldn't wait to see him one last time. I never expected the film to be emotional, but I left that cinema with tears streaming down my face and that is the first and only time I have ever cried in a cinema. I wasn't the only one either. There were many tears that day. The ending was something special, and they did an excellent job in paying tribute to him. It was just beautiful.

These films will always be the legacy that Paul Walker left behind. There's such a huge fanbase surrounding the franchise, and Paul in particular. It's touching how many people actually loved him. These films are the reason he is adored so much, because he created a character that people wanted to be or be with.

Over the stretch of 10 years, people fell in love with his character and the man behind the character. He brought the character to life and we couldn't imagine the franchise without him. The cast are a family and fans loved the relationship they all had with each other. There is a massive hole now that he is gone. Unfortunately, we have to imagine the franchise without him, but it wouldn't have been as successful now if it wasn't for him. He's a huge part of these films, right at the heart of them in a way we'll never forget.

Revisiting Paul Walker's Fantastic Filmography

Some only know Paul Walker for his portrayal of Brian O'Connor in the Fast and Furious franchise, but fans will know that he has been in many other films. He's starred in Into the Blue, the action film starring Jessica Alba as his leading lady. The film is about a group of people who go treasure hunting in the sea and come across a crashed airplane containing lot of cocaine. As you can expect, trouble then follows. It's a very entertaining film and these actors definitely have chemistry. Rewatching Into the Blue is a great way to see what Paul was capable of outside of the Fast and Furious franchise.

Eight Below is one of the sweetest films on Paul Walker's IMDb list. In this film, he works with several Husky dogs in the Arctic. The dogs in this film are amazing; they risk their lives for the humans. Paul's relationship with them is adorable — he really brings out the characters in these dogs.

Paul also showed his talents in The Lazarus Project, a psychological thriller that sees his character search for sanity when he wakes up in a psychiatric hospital. With no one to trust, he must figure out the answers on his own and fight to get his family back.

In Takers, we see Paul's character teamed up with numerous other people as they live the life of criminals, robbing banks to keep themselves afloat. It's a thrilling heist film with a young cast. Definitely the film to watch if you're an action junkie.

All these films are good and entertaining, but Hours is my personal favorite. It has been regarded as Paul Walker's greatest performance by critics, and I completely agree.

Walker's performance — along with the film — gets more and more engrossing.

He is faultless and gracious in the role of a father trying to keep his newborn daughter alive after hurricane Katrina wreaks havoc on the hospital where she is in an incubator. It's stunning and everyone should have the pleasure of experiencing him in his most vulnerable performance.

We didn't just love him for the characters he created or the films he starred in, we love him because of the person he was outside of film. He had an awesome personality and was always willing to help others. He proved this through voluntary and charity work. He was a kind, good-hearted man who was taken too soon.

Not only will fans carry on his legacy by watching his films, but so will everyone who worked with him, especially the Fast and Furious cast and crew. He was loved by many, and we will never forget him.